DeKALB | Six years ago, NIU held a press conference at Mike Ditka’s Restaurant in Chicago to announce Rob Judson as “program savior,” naming him men’s basketball head coach.

At 11 a.m. today, NIU will hold a press conference at Mike Ditka’s to announce another potential program savior.

The announcement comes little over a week after Athletics Director Jim Phillips said Judson would not return as head coach – three days after a MAC Tournament first-round loss and after a 7-23 overall record.

As NIU’s head coach, Judson posted a 74-101 career record in six seasons. Judson was named head coach after being an assistant coach at NIU, Bradley and Illinois.

In his first season, Judson went 12-16 but followed it by going 17-14 in 2002-03. Two more losing seasons followed – 10-20 in 2003-04 and 11-17 in 2004-05 – before success came again in the form of a MAC West division title and 17-11 record in 2005-06.

ESPN’s Andy Katz reported Sunday night that multiple sources say NIU will announce the hiring of former Colorado coach Ricardo Patton on Monday. But the Daily Chronicle also reported that Pete Gillen and Rob Evans are serious contenders.

Patton announced in October that he would not look for a contract extension and not return next season at Colorado. In 11 seasons, Patton took the Buffaloes to two NCAA Tournament appearances in 1997 and 2003. In Patton’s last season at Colorado, the Buffaloes posted a 7-20 overall record and a 3-13 finish in the Big 12 conference.

Gillen resigned after the 2004-05 season at Virginia after seven years. In his tenure, the Cavaliers made the NCAA Tournament once in 2001 and made the NIT four times.

Prior to coaching at Virginia, Gillen coached at Xavier and Providence. In both programs, Gillen led the teams to the NCAA Tournament at least once.

Evans was fired from Arizona State after the 2005-06 season after going 11-17. Evans was hired before the 1998-99 season from Mississippi.

At Mississippi, Evans lead the Rebels to a back-to-back 20-win season in 1997 and 1998 in the Southeast Conference. In the 1997 campaign, Evans was named SEC Coach of the Year and College Hoops Insider National Coach of the Year.

Junior forward Zach Pancratz said he wasn’t as surprised that Judson was let go as he was about how quickly it happened.

“I was really surprised it happened so quick,” Pancratz said. “NIU administration wanted to make it quick.”

As is the case with coaches leaving, players may leave, too.

Pancratz said several players speculated about leaving the team if Judson was let go after a 67-62 loss.

“With the emotion of the last game, there were some guys that speculated [about leaving], but I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Pancratz said.